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Kotchman cuts finger during drill

JUPITER, Fla. — All out hustle caused the first minor injury in Marlins’ Spring Training.

Casey Kotchman on Monday morning sliced his left ring finger on the machine that flung pop flies to infielders. The veteran first baseman, in camp on a Minor League contract, sprinted from first base to home plate when colliding with the machine.

Kotchman received four stitches, and the team is hopeful that he will only miss a few days.

“I’ve seen some crazy stuff,” manager Mike Redmond said of freakish injuries. “I’ve seen guys come up with stiff necks getting out of chairs, things like that. It was crazy. I heard him call it, and I was like, ‘Man, no way he was getting to that ball.’ He caught it. He made a great play. He just stop. It’s unfortunate. We’re hoping that it’s not an extensive thing.”

With a longer Spring Training due to the World Baseball Classic, the Marlins are hopeful the extra time will allow Kotchman a chance to get back into playing shape.

First base is a position of concern, with Logan Morrison recovering from right knee surgery. Morrison on Tuesday is having his knee evaluated by Dr. Richard Steadman, who performed the surgery in Vail, Colo. Morrison hopes to be cleared to start running.

Maine to start: Redmond announced John Maine will get the Marlins first Grapefruit League start, which will be Saturday against the Cardinals. The right-hander will pitch two innings. Tom Koehler, Brad Hand, Steve Cishek, Mike Dunn, Chad Qualls, Dan Jennings and Michael Wuertz also are expected to pitch.

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